paint chip repair question

Hi-Step'n370Z

There are three very small paint chips on the rear of my Z. Among the chips are scratches that are not through the clear coat. Looks like someone rubbed over the area with a scrub pad. They are within an area of 4"x4" and are located on the rear panel that holds the license plate and has the Nissan emblem and the 370Z emblem. The dealer wants to remove the whole rear panel, which covers the entire rear of the car, running from wheel well to wheel well, and re-paint the whole thing. I would think that a simple brush touch of paint, a rub out, and a brush touch of clear coat, then rub it out/buff would be good enough. Do you guys think I should let them re-paint the rear panel?

j.arnaldo

...I wonder if that "pencil" that Billy Mays (R.I.P.) screams about in the commercial works. I'm seriously considering getting it.

Hi-Step'n370Z

I should have added that this repair is no charge to me, the dealer is going to make the repair as the chips were there when I took delivery of the Z.

OldGuy

Sounds like he's sort of using a sledge hammer to kill a flea. I'm no mechanic but I've always hesitated to take a car apart for fear that putting it his reassembly is just not the same as the factory assemble process and the car might become prone to rattles or whatever in that area. It's good of the dealer to do this, but I'd avoid tearing that part of the car apart if at all possible.

Hi-Step'n370Z

Thanks Oldguy. I agree with you. The breaking apart of anything factory installed is never my first choice, and re-painting a factory paint job is another thing that I am not too keen on doing either. If this were a used car, then OK, re-paint, but not a brand new car with 33 miles on it. My main concern here is that the paint job will fail after maybe a few years, if not sooner, that's something I want to avoid. Plus, these chips are hardly noticeable, you have to know they're there or you really won't see them. I think that I would rather touch it up myself before I let the dealer use the sledge hammer to kill a flea approach, in fact, if there weren't the minor scratches, I'd have already touched it up. I have never had experience with a rub-out, and I'd need someone with the know-how to rub the repair down to smooth. So, I'm with you on this one. Right now, the Z is in storage for the winter, so nothing's going to happen just yet. When I get her on the road, I'll see if the Dealer will do the repair as I suggested. If not, I'll either brush touch it myself, or find someone who will make the repair as I would like it to be done. Thanks for the input.